Title: Ergonomics for Fire and EMS Departments Command Staff Ergonomics
1Ergonomics for Fire and EMS DepartmentsCommand
Staff Ergonomics
- University of Oregon
- Labor Education and Research Center
This material has been made possible by a grant
from the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health
Division, Department of Consumer and Business
Services
2Todays Workshop
Will provide information on
- Cumulative Trauma
- Risk factors for musculoskeletal injury
- Elements of an ergonomics program
- Information resources for developing an
ergonomics program in your department
3Fire and EMS Work
- Requires workers to
- Always be prepared
- Respond quickly
- Think and react quickly
- Not always be in control of schedule
- Work in hazardous situations
- Physically Emotionally Demanding
4Cost of Injury
- 31.4 of firefighter injuries due to
overexertion - Overexertion is due to pushing, pulling, holding,
carrying, wielding or throwing objects - Per claim, average workers compensation cost of
ALL injuries to firefighters 5168 - Per claim, workers compensation average cost for
overexertion 9715 - Of this 9715, only 3458 was for direct medical
costs
5Avoidable Injuries
- Acute injuries
- Happen immediately
- Can become chronic
- Re-injury possible
- Chronic injuries
- Pain or symptoms lasting more
- than a month
- Cumulative trauma
- Happens over time
6Cumulative Trauma Cycle
Activity
microtrauma (small tears)
irritation to tissue
produces scar tissue
Keeps repeating as long as activity continues
results in ? flexibility ? strength ? function
adhesions form
adhesions coalesce
7Repetitive Motions
- Same posture or motions again and again
- Repetitive motion can be very frequent over
short period of time - Cumulative trauma can be less frequent but
repeated over time
8Break the Injury Cycle
Fatigue
Discomfort
Pain
Injury
re-injury may be likely
Disability
9Disc Herniations
- Disc damage is frequently the result of
cumulative, repetitive trauma as well as
overexertion - Outer disc fibers repeatedly tear and heal as a
result of repetitive overloading
- The disc weakens overtime (years) leading to
herniation of the nucleus, causing back and leg
pain, and numbness
10What is Ergonomics?
Worker
Environment
Task/job
The goal of ergonomics is to design the job to
fit the worker, NOT fit the worker to the job.
11Musculoskeletal Risk Factors
- Excessive force/weight
- (pulling, pushing or lifting)
- Awkward postures
- Prolonged postures
- Repetition
- Temperature extremes
- Risk magnitude is increased by
- time, intensity, or combining factors
12Injury Prevention Program
SAFETY
ERGONOMICS
HEALTH
ERGONOMICS TEAM labor management
TRAINING
JOB ANALYSIS
risk factors identified
HAZARD PREVENTION CONTROL
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
REVIEW
13Ergonomics Program Elements
- Assessment of musculoskeletal hazards
- Prevention and control of musculoskeletal
hazards - Training
- A medical management system
- Procedures for reporting injuries
- A plan for the implementation of the program
- Methods for evaluating the program
141) Assessment of Hazards
- A hazard analysis breaks a job down into elements
which can be described and measured - It allows the inherent risk to be quantified
- It identifies the conditions within a job that
contribute to risk
- It is performed by person with
- ergonomics training
- Safety committee members
- Line personnel
15 When to do a Hazard Assessment
- Identify jobs where
- Work-related injuries have occurred previously
- Frequent severe or non-severe injuries occur
- Past injuries result in work restrictions
- Workers leave because of inability to perform the
physical requirements of job - Sustainable quality performance difficult
- Worker complaints of unresolving pain or fatigue
16Prevention and Control
- Set short term and long term goals
- Think outside the box come up with many
potential solutions - Decide on the optimal solution by considering
- Barriers
- Costs
- Amount of risk reduced
Line personnel think of great solutions!
17Ergonomic Solutions
Personal control
Effectiveness
Equipment or Engineering
Job organization
Personal protective equipment
Bodymechanics
183) Ergonomics Training
- Part of an ergonomics program is to provide
training to fire and EMS personnel - Ergonomics training curriculum is free from
Oregon OSHA. Modules include - Introduction to Ergonomics and Cumulative
Trauma - Job Hazard Analysis
- Developing and Implementing Ergonomic Solutions
- Bodymechanics Back Health
194) Medical Management System
Preventive Measures
- Regular medical exams
- Regular physical conditioning
- Periodic fitness/wellness evaluations
- Education/training
Reactive Measures
- Early recognition and treatment
- Access to medical and rehabilitative care
- Alterative work
- Workers compensation
205) Injury Reporting System
- Define what constitutes a reportable injury
- Not reporting may lead to more serious injuries
- Minor injury logs
- Mechanism to report injuries
- Identify lines of responsibility
worker
safety committee
medical provider
employer
21Reporting Injuries
- Train personnel
- Ergonomics
- Record keeping
- Record keeping
- Clearly identify injury cause
- Differentiate between acute and repetitive
- Follow-up
- Feedback into the ergonomics program
- Identify and address hazard
22Gaining Support
6) Implementing Your Program
- Part of existing safety and health program
- Management commitment
- Worker involvement
- Union involvement
- Awareness and education
23Commitment Involvement
- Support from department, local government,
community and line personnel essential - Launch kick-off meeting by chief to explain
program - Establish ergonomics committee
- Establish lines of communication responsibility
- Commit resources time and money
24Ergonomics Committee
- Set short-term and long-term goals
- Identify useful tools and resources
- Develop ergonomic awareness
- Identify modify high risk activities via
- Risk assessments
- Surveys
- Injury-records
- Make necessary changes to work environment
257) Evaluating Your Program
- How do you know what is working?
- Statistics
- Health
- Program
- General
- Cost / Benefit Analysis
26Statistics
- Health reduction in
- injury rate, severity
- costs (overhead, medical, workers comp)
- time loss
- Program numbers of
- hazards identified
- solutions proposed
- solutions approved
- solutions implemented
- General having
- appropriate equipment
- improved work environment
- improved work practices
- boosted morale
- healthier relations
27Cost/Benefit Analysis
Implementing the program
Pre-program injury costs
Injury costs with program
28Ergonomic Resources
FEMA Fire and EMS Ergonomics search for
ergonomics on www.fema.gov/
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health Elements of Ergonomics Programs Guide
to Evaluating the Effectiveness of Strategies for
Preventing Work Injuries www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepag
e.html
Oregon OSHA www.orosha.org/consult/ergonomic/ergo
nomics.htm
Federal OSHA www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/index.ht
ml
29Conclusions
- Cumulative trauma occurs over time
- Applying ergonomics injury prevention
saved - An ergonomics program is a comprehensive approach
at applying ergonomics - Command staff are integral to a successful
ergonomics program
30Questions and Evaluation
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- Thank you for your attention